Rodho’ah (breastfeeding) which gives rise to Mahram

QUESTION:

Assalamualaikum? Afwan ust, please explain ust. Regarding Rodho sharia, is Rodho like that valid? Doesn’t Rodho only apply to babies? what are the details and laws like? Has the hadith about that been mansukh like the hadith about Mut’ah? Can he be made a mahrom rodho if he turns out to be an adult?

ANSWER

Wa’alaikumussalam wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh

The legal requirements for radha’ah (breastfeeding which creates a mahram relationship (haram marriage) between the breastfeeding mother, the breastfeeding child, and her family) which make breastfeeding a mahram are:

1. Breastfed before the age of 2 years. Based on Al Baqarah 233

“A mother should breastfeed her child for two full years, for those who want to complete breastfeeding. It is the father’s obligation to provide good living and clothing for his children. If you want to breastfeed your child (to someone else), there is no sin for you if you make payment in the right way. Fear Allah and know that indeed Allah sees what you do.” (QS al-Baqarah: 233)

2. Breastfeeding 5 times is satisfactory

From ‘Aisyah Radhiallahu ‘Anha said,

What is revealed in the Qur’an is: Ten certain breast-feedings are prohibited, then it is cancelled, with five certain breast-feedings, the Prophet SAW dies. And it is in what is read from the Koran

“Previously in the Qur’an, breastfeeding that could make someone a mahram was breastfeeding ten times, then it was abolished (removed) with just five breastfeedings. Then Rasulullah ﷺ died, and the verses of the Koran are still read like that.”

(HR. Muslim no. 1452)

The Shari’ah of Rodho’ah has never been eliminated, meaning breastfeeding a baby. It has nothing to do with marriage. Rodho’ (breastfeeding) does not occur in marriage, but rather in the pursuit of celibacy. By being breastfed, a person becomes a mahram between the person being breastfed, the breastfeeding mother, and the breastfeeding brother.

Wallahu A’lam

Farid Nu’man Hasan

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